The weight loss journey: 5 things to do to get started
There are many people out there who want to lose weight, But the question has always been how to go about it. Here are 5 things to do to get started on your weight loss journey.
There is so much information available on weight loss these days. While most of these tips offer effective ways to avoid obesity or excessive weight gain, they can all be overwhelming, especially for a beginner. If your question is, "how do I get started with weight loss?" this article is for you.
You would have to learn when best to eat, what to eat, what not to eat, the quantity of food to eat, and even the type of exercise to do.
With weight loss, there is just an endless list of things you have to do and lists of things you are advised not to do. The complexity of it all makes some people who want to start their weight loss journey throw in the towel even before the journey starts.
Things to do before you get started on your weight loss journey
Understanding the challenges people have with starting their weight loss journey, we will be helping you ease into your weight loss journey by giving you 5 tips on how to get started.
1.Start with writing out your meal plan
If you have read up to this point, then most definitely, you have gone past 'considering weight loss' to the point where you have 'made up your mind' to start up your weight loss journey.
Don't ever feel intimidated by those who seem to have gotten to the end of their journey and have beaten excessive weight. You will get there too. You just have to start!
Being intentional about the food you eat is vital to your weight loss journey; thus, to get started, you should think of creating a menu plan for your meals first.
Write a meal plan to cover the first two weeks of your weight loss journey. This makes it easier for you as you won't have to worry each day about what to eat since you already have it all planned out.
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Planning your meal menu for weight loss again might get overwhelming, but you don't have to make it complicated. Simplicity is the best way to go at this early stage of your journey.
You don't have to discard all your old recipes at once but change them gradually, throwing in the new ones as the day goes by. Once you get the hang of menu planning, you can add as many recipes as needed to get you through your weight loss journey.
2.Clean out and organize your fridge, pantry
This is a follow up to the first tip. While planning your meals, you should be looking out to clean up your kitchen cabinets and storage.
Now, similar to meal planning, where you are not expected to discard your old recipes at once, you also don't have to throw away every piece of junk you have on your first day of the weight loss journey. That might be too drastic.
However, you have to start with clearing out things to make room for healthier foods that support your weight loss journey.
In order to eat healthily, you would need a kitchen environment that supports cooking healthy meals. When you clean up and organize your kitchen area, you feel more revived and even more ready to start your new journey to acquire a healthy weight.
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3.Sign up for a weight loss program
A great weight loss program should cover areas like meal planning, calorie counting, as well as a workout plan. You need all these to kickstart your weight loss journey.
As a beginner, you might find it challenging to plan your meals every time by yourself as you might not even know the meals you need to avoid. Also, counting calories and choosing the right workout plan would be another challenge for beginners.
How do you find a weight loss program? You can start searching online. There are many online weight loss programs and tools that can help you with your weight loss journey.
When you find the ideal one, sign up and stick with the plans (both meal and workout plans). Even after you have achieved your weight loss goal, the weight loss program can help you sustain your weight.
4.Take a picture and take your measurements
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You need to know your measurements and how much you weigh before you start your weight loss journey. This would help you set goals and also measure your progress through your weight loss journey.
Do you want to lose weight all over, or there is a particular part of the body you want to focus on? Measure that part. For instance, if you want to lose belly fat, measure around your belly before starting your weight loss journey.
After taking the first picture, you will have to follow up with pictures at intervals (maybe monthly) to help you keep track of changes. It also works to help you become more intentional about the body shape you want to achieve.
You might feel nervous at the start of your weight loss journey, but then when you finally start losing some weight, you will find out that your body gets transformed, and it always feels great seeing and monitoring that progress through pictures and measurements.
5.Determine not to give up
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One of the constant battles you have to fight if you are on a weight loss journey is the urge to give up. Many people have been there and have attested to that feeling of despair.
But, one of the best decisions you will ever make is deciding never to give up right from the start of your weight loss journey.
It will not be easy, but it is not unachievable either. You will need determination, patience and consistency for your weight loss journey.
Remember how it feels like to be overweight and focus on the goal you want to achieve. Even though the changes won't happen overnight, promise yourself that you will reach your goal and don't give up on it.
Conclusion
The start of a weight loss journey comes with a whole lot of new things and changes to be made but in all, remember to be compassionate to yourself, especially as a beginner.
Focus on starting first. It doesn't have to be a drastic start but start from somewhere. Focus on developing healthy habits and avoid entertaining the idea of giving up.